(2) Arco Avenue is one of my top five most favorite stores in all of the world. I have large feet and they special order shoes for me and I just love them! (They also have normal size shoes for those of you with normal feet!)

(3) I got to take these pictures, giving me the opportunity to hone my skillz with my semi new camera!

(4) Elish is a design wizard and she and Katie work so well together that it’s truly magical (hence my use of the word wizard.) Side note: Elish helped Katie several years back when Arco underwent a pretty huge facelift, so this Arco update is a piggyback update on what they did together about five years ago!

Let’s get on with some pictures (you can check out the updated project page on our design site here!) then I’ll let Elish give you a little more insight into the design!

I asked Elish to tell us a bit about the behind-the-design-scenes and I love what she had to share!

“Katie, the owner of Arco Avenue (and its cute neighbor Row 10), came into Summerhouse one day and pointed out a fun lounger on our floor and said she’d love to use something like it to incorporate more seating into Arco. Katie’s ideas for her store are always on point, from a design direction and from a retail perspective. She’s consistent in what she’s drawn to and it’s always a piece that is also investing in the draw of Arco Avenue, so thankfully I never have to second guess anything on that front.”

“She fell in love with a gorgeous white sherpa material that actually happened to be durable and easy to clean! As I worked on incorporating the loungers into the layout, we realized we needed to do a bit of rearranging, and update the rug to fit our new configuration. I also suggested adding two potted fiddle leaf figs. It fit the aesthetic of her store and also livened up the space and brings the outside in with some greenery.”

“These new updates went hand in hand with a mini in store makeover with added shelving and display space to celebrate Arco’s eight year anniversary. Katie is truly the best to work with and I’m proud to say I get a front row seat as she grows her business and continues make it more and more successful!”

And that’s a wrap! Kudos to Katie for her fantastic vision, Elish for expanding and executing the design vision, and YOU for reading!

I hope you have a fantastic day today. Thanks so much for stopping by! And if you are in need of new shoes, please be sure to check out Arco Avenue. They have a great online shop and ship for free.

We have noticed that many of our designers have been placing exposed wood frame sofas and settees in their projects lately, which got us thinking about how much we love the versatility of this style!

Carved exposed wood adds a touch of old world charm to a space, where sleek wood adds a slightly more modern touch. Either way, we love the element that this type of seating brings into a space! We rounded up a few of our favorite exposed wood framed pieces for your viewing pleasure. Which one is your favorite?!

Today, SummerHouse Interior Designer Elish Moon takes the stage to talk a little bit about the life of a piece of furniture and why good furniture from SummerHouse is worth the investment. We love what Elish shares and we think you will too!

“So we have entered this era where interior design is trending and more and more accessible. In response, there are more designers, online retailers, and pop up stores than directions to turn. They’ve all got pretty pieces, unique pieces, stylish pieces. How on earth do you make a decision? Well let me share a few insider tips that might make your decision making a hair easier.

Summerhouse has been in business over a decade and is locally owned and operated. That means each piece, each line, each vendor we carry is very specifically chosen for our client and our locale. We’re not a big box store, we aren’t marketing to the masses, and our consumer lives next door, works with us, or runs into us at the local market. What does that mean? We have to sell a product we can stand behind, that is quality, and that will surpass the test of time. I as a designer am incredibly selective about what I sell to my clients. The performance of what I sell is not only a reflection of the vendors we put our names behind but a reflection of my expertise! Many potential clients are scared about making their first big “design investment”. Here are a few common misconceptions that I hear often:

1. “I have kids. And a dog. They eat macaroni and cheese on this. There’s no way I’m purchasing a nice sofa. We’ll get one when they’re grown.” This makes me cringe. Why can’t you have kids and pets AND a nice sofa? It’s 2017…didn’t you know you can have it all!? If you are buying a “throwaway sofa” it may have to be replaced in a few years. You’ll end up spending the same amount (probably more, actually) continually replacing your “temporary” sofa as you would in the nice one! You can purchase a sofa that has a lifetime warranty on the frame, well made cushions, etc.. and just make smart choices on the fabric. Get a slipcovered sofa that is washable. Order your sofa in a performance fabric. The options are endless! You can live your life (the real one…baby spit up and all) and still be comfortable in your own home. I promise.

2. “Bar stools are how much?! Why?” What are some of the most used pieces of furniture in your home? Sofa, bar stools… Doesn’t it make sense that a piece you use every single day might need to be high quality so it can take the abuse? Often those “bargain stools” (you know what I’m talking about) are poorly constructed, glued together, stools that got imported here on a container. They cannot hold significant weight, are not engineered for long lasting durability or stability, and wear much more quickly than an american made, hand constructed, piece. All furniture is not created equal y’all.

3. “I saw this item online for less and it’s the same item you have in your store???” This is a tough one. I’ll be honest… sometimes the same item IS out there for less, but there is SO much value built into everything we sell that goes beyond the item itself. You have a designer’s expertise built in to every piece you purchase from Summerhouse. We’re here to help you select the best item that fits you and your lifestyle. We’re here to make sure that the piece fits in your space. We’re weighing all the variables and spending our time to narrow down options and save you time. We’re making sure pieces arrive safely, scheduling your delivery, placing things correctly. We’re the client’s safety net keeping them from making costly mistakes. You get so much more than a product when you purchase from Summerhouse. We stand behind every single thing that comes through our showroom and warehouse. You get an experience that is custom tailored to you and your home. Isn’t that a worthy investment?”

So there you have it! Thank you so much, Elish, for all of this!

We would absolutely love to get to help you on your next interior design project, no matter how big or how small! Thank you for taking the time to learn a little more about us. We hope to get to work with you soon!

We recently added a charming little vignette to our Ridgeland showroom from the new Bungalow Classic collection for Highland House that we are more than in love with!

“The BUNGALOW CLASSIC duo Randy and Courtney Tilinski, also known as “Mr. and Mrs. Bungalow”, bring their design talents and signature style to their new BUNGALOW CLASSIC COLLECTION for HIGHLAND HOUSE. Inspired by their love of travel, fashion, and all-things-home, the collection captures the refined, yet approachable, aesthetic the dynamic couple are known for.”

We welcome the pieces of this collection to our Ridgeland showroom. We can’t wait for more pieces to arrive! We love this refined whimsy and think you will as well.

It’s no secret that we love a great chaise. Who wouldn’t want a super chic bench that could double as a place to take a Sunday nap? These chaises are high in style, they’re super functional, and they add interest to a room. One of these might be just the thing you’ve been looking for to go in your home… If so, let one of our designers know! We can get you fixed up!

Aren’t they beautiful? We know you love them as much as we do!

Thank you so much for stopping by today! Have a GREAT rest of the week! (And be sure to get in our Instagram giveaway we have going on through next Wednesday! There will be five winners, so your chances are GOOD!)

SummerHouse was recently featured in Reunion Living Magazine and it was such a lovely spotlight! They did a Q&A with our immensely talented Lisa Palmer and included lots of fabulous photos of past SummerHouse projects. If you live in Reunion, you probably got a copy of this pretty little publication. If you don’t, feel free to stop by the Ridgeland shop and take a peek at the copies we have up there!

Many thanks again to Reunion Living for doing this great feature! We hope you enjoy it!

Our Oxford store is looking SO good right now (and we just got lots of fresh new photos of it) that we just had to share! Get ready for tons of eye candy… We can’t even handle how pretty this shop is! Next time you’re in the Oxford area, please stop in and see us!

Like what you see? It’s even prettier in person! We hope you’ll drop by soon and take a look around!

The beautiful weather and warmer temperatures lately have had us thinking often about the beach! Although we can’t necessarily pick up and go whenever we wish, we can quickly add some blue and natural beachy elements to the design of our homes to help accomplish a goal similar to a 30A vacation!

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MEET OUR EDITOR

Hi! My name is Laurel Donahoo and I'm the editor for Always Summer! I have been on the SummerHouse team since 2007 and have loved every minute of it! My southern roots, love of design, and appreciation for the talent of my incredible coworkers makes managing this blog one of my most favorite things to do! When I'm not blogging, I like spending time at home with my husband, kids, and pups or cooking, taking weekend trips, or planning my next design project for my own home!

Feel free to E-mail me with any blog questions, comments, ideas, or collaboration pitches! Thank you so much for stopping by today!

No matter what size your project is, or where in the U.S. you live, we can help make your design dreams reality! Give a SummerHouse Interior Designer a call and get one step closer to creating a more beautiful home! pic.twitter.com/iGMjl9VHE0